The American political system is far beyond the need for minor reform. It has come to the point that America needs a complete political overhaul. It was a good system. But its limitations are becoming apparent.

America’s founding fathers wisely enshrined the separation of church and state in the Constitution. Eliminating religious control of government created a unique new culture of religious tolerance and individual freedom. The result was a nation that people flocked to, from all around the globe. Those areas of the world in which there is no such separation tend to vividly remind us of the wisdom of that principle.

Instant Runoff Voting is used in many city and state elections around the country, with great effect, It’s used in many international elections, as well. When it comes to indigestible electioneering, Instant Runoff is the bromide.

Our current political system is organized in geographical districts. That was an arrangement that made sense in 1776. It’s an arrangement that makes less sense now, considering the mobility of our population.

If the biggest problem we face is money going into the political system, then the second biggest problem has to be the money coming out of it. Those two trends could almost offset each other, except for one thing: The money going in goes to politicians and their parties. The money coming out comes from our tax dollars — and the waste of our tax dollars makes it impossible for government to do many of the things it should be doing.

When you’re losing, change the game. That’s the first maxim of game theory. Corporations have been “gaming the system” for decades. It’s time to change the game, so the political system once again values people more than profits. Doing so could restore the tremendous economy and high standard of living of the 1950’s, while retaining the benefits of modern technology.

The corporation is the most powerful engine of progress ever devised. Ungoverned, it is also the most powerful engine of destruction. Like a chainsaw, it can do a lot of great work for you — or it can rip off your leg. The trick is for American citizens and employees who run those companies to regain control of them.

The health of society depends on equality and opportunity for all. Effective government depends on adequate funding. The quality of the food and water supply depends on government regulation. Today, all three of those propositions are in peril. The solution for all of them may reside in a progressive tax that is free of loopholes.